Downflow booths are used in the pharmaceutical, fine chemical and food industries, for operations such as sampling, grinding, dispensing and filling, which generate airborne particles; when processes involve hazardous, toxic or sensitizing materials and when operators, adjoining areas require protection from exposure to aerosols of the process materials.

Surrogate Powder Containment testing on an Esco Pharmacon Downflow Booth (model DFB-1.5S1-10-C, serial number 2009-38070) was conducted to assess the performance characteristics of these booths in containing and controlling airborne concentrations of particulate powders generated during typical powder handling and transfer operations. Three test iterations were conducted, each involving the transfer of 25 kg of lactose from a bulk product drum into a receiving drum. The tests results prove that the booth delivers excellent containment significantly below industry-accepted criteria.